New Jersey Judgments & Liens Search

In New Jersey, money judgments come from the Superior Court, including its Special Civil Part. A judgment becomes a statewide lien on the debtor's real estate when the Clerk of the Superior Court in Trenton records it in the Civil Judgment and Order Docket, which is done on request and payment of a fee. UCC financing statements are filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.

Always confirm the official record by ordering a certified copy from the originating office when accuracy matters for closing, refinancing, or litigation.

Judgment Lien Public Access, from the New Jersey Courts, searches the statewide judgment docket; first time users register for an account. The courts' Find a Case page also leads to civil, foreclosure, criminal judgment and tax case public access.

• Judgment Lien Public AccessSearch New Jersey statewide judgment liens
• Find a CaseNew Jersey Courts public case access
• New Jersey court records guideCourts and clerks in New Jersey on PublicRecordCenter

A money judgment is not recorded as a statewide lien automatically: the creditor sends it to the Clerk of the Superior Court in Trenton, who records it in the Civil Judgment and Order Docket on payment of the fee (N.J.S.A. 2A:16-11, Directive 26-17). A Special Civil Part judgment is recorded there with a Statement for Docketing, after which the debtor cannot sell New Jersey real estate with clear title until the debt is paid. A construction lien claim is filed with the county clerk no later than 90 days after the last work, services, material or equipment was provided (N.J.S.A. 2A:44A-6).

• Directive 26-17Recording judgments as statewide liens
• Filing a construction lienNew Jersey Courts answer on the Construction Lien Law

UCC financing statements are filed with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, which runs an online UCC filing and search service.

• New Jersey UCC serviceDivision of Revenue and Enterprise Services

New Jersey judgments remain in effect for 20 years and can be renewed for 20 more by a motion in the Superior Court, Law Division (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5). Writs for wage executions can last 20 years, but other writs of execution expire in two years.

• How to enforce a judgmentNew Jersey Courts guide, 20 year judgments

New Jersey's tool is the information subpoena, a set of written questions served on the judgment debtor that the court rules require to be answered within 14 days, asking about the debtor's income and property, and a debtor who ignores it faces a contempt hearing and, under Rule 6:7-2(g), arrest and a mandatory appearance before a judge. It is used in the Special Civil Part and on Law Division judgments, and a separate form, the information subpoena and written questions to non-parties, is directed to banks and employers.

The court files help even though New Jersey excludes the Family Case Information Statement and the incorporated settlement agreement from public access under Rule 1:38-3(d)(1). The judgment of divorce and the court's orders are public and show the support terms and any division the court itself ordered. A bankruptcy file in the District of New Jersey lists deposit accounts by institution and the employer by name. The New Jersey asset search page covers both.

The New Jersey Courts explain how to collect money from a civil judgment, with packets for wage executions and bank levies. A wage execution can be asked for if the debtor works in New Jersey and earns more than $217.50 a week.

• Collecting money in a civil judgmentNew Jersey Courts self-help
• How to Collect a Money JudgmentSpecial Civil Part brochure

• PACER, federal court recordsFederal district, bankruptcy and appeals case files
• IRS, federal tax liensWhat a federal tax lien is and how it is released